Coaches will give Griese a long look

Just as Lovie Smith showed patience with Rex Grossman, he’ll do the same with Brian Griese as the new starting quarterback for the Chicago Bears.

Reed Schreck

Just as Lovie Smith showed patience with Rex Grossman, he’ll do the same with Brian Griese as the new starting quarterback for the Chicago Bears.

That doesn’t mean Griese gets the next 24 starts, the number that Grossman had consecutively over parts of three seasons. He will get more than Sunday’s game at Detroit.

“Rex wasn’t under a week-to-week, I have to play a certain way or I’ll lose my job,” Smith said Wednesday at Halas Hall before a media crunch that resembled Super Bowl week last season. “I always let players play, play for a period of time to show us exactly what they are. That’s the quarterback position and how we’ll look at it from now on.

“This is what I hope to see. I hope to see Brian take our team and take off with it so we’re not even discussing these kinds of things about the quarterback position. I told him don’t look over your shoulder and worry about whether you have to come in and be a Hall of Fame quarterback the first time. You’ll get an opportunity to prove what you can do. There are no time limits, no certain amount of games.”

For Grossman, it’s a demotion to second string. Kyle Orton remains No. 3.

What the Bears need now, Smith said, “is a breath of fresh air, so we’re going to go in a different direction with it.

“I’m excited for Brian. He brings a lot of experience. He’s been a loyal soldier in the backup role up to this point. He’s anxious to go. Our team will back him 100 percent like they did Rex. Hopefully, we can get this going in the right direction.

“I just know we need a spark over there.”

A good old bonfire wouldn’t hurt. Chicago’s offense ranks 30th, including 29th in passing.

Smith said it wasn’t an “overnight decision.”

“I’ve looked at a pattern of our play and of the quarterback position,” he said. “Right now, offensively, we’re not getting a whole lot done.”

Why make the switch now?

“We always go with the player we feel at every position that gives us the best opportunity to win now,” he said. “It’s really as simple as that. There are a lot of factors that come into play whenever you make any changes.

“There are other positions offensively that need to step up — coaching, players. We all need to do a better job to get some production on the offensive side of the football.”

The numbers bear that out. The offense under Grossman produced 10 turnovers in 37 possessions in starting 1-2 this season. He had a 45.1 quarterback rating, completing 47-of-89 passes for 500 yards, one touchdown and six interceptions.

Griese hasn’t started since Oct. 16, 2005, when he led Tampa Bay to a 5-1 mark before injuring his knee. Going into this season, the 10-year veteran had the 17th best quarterback rating in league history (84.5), with 104 touchdown passes and 80 interceptions.

He signed a five-year contract for a reported $25 million on March 22, 2006.

“I got the word on Monday, and I’ve been excited ever since,” Griese said. “I feel like I’m at a point in my career where I’m ready for the challenge, ready for the opportunity. I respect the fact that we have a great opportunity with this team, and the talent on this team.”

He knows how long he can keep the regular role.

“You learn early in your career this business is based on performance,” he said. “So I don’t look at it as week to week or four games or a season or three seasons. I know from my experience in the past if you perform, you keep your job. If you don’t, eventually you’ll lose it.”

At least he’s well-rested. He mopped up in six games last year, completing 18 of 32 passes for 220 yards, one touchdown, one pick and a quarterback rating of 62.0.

“I tell you what, my body feels good,” he said. “I haven’t played in two years, so I feel pretty good. I’m excited about that.”

He said he never gave up hope of getting another chance.

“You never know,” said Griese, who also has started for Denver and Miami in addition to Tampa Bay. “Nothing is guaranteed by any stretch. I’m in a situation now, and I’m going to try and make the best of it.”

Players understood the move, considering the team’s struggles. They continued to speak highly of both quarterbacks, expressing confidence in both.

We’re a team,” tight end Desmond Clark said. “When the coaches make a move, we’ve all got to move with the coaches. I’m a team player so I guess that says enough. When coach tells the team to move in one direction, I move in that direction also.”

Wideout Muhsin Muhammad doesn’t care who throws balls his way, although he is good friends with Grossman.

“I would be the first to say I was pulling for Rex. I really wanted him to do well. I wanted him to be successful in this offense, and I think he still has the tools. This isn’t over for him. You never know what can happen during the course of a season.

“With the way he’s struggling, obviously the coaches felt they had to make a change for the team. I hope he keeps his head up. I was always the guy in his corner. He’s a good dude.”

Reed Schreck is the NFL Writer for the Rockford Register Star. Contact him at 815-987-1381 or rschreck@rrstar.com.

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